Ex Gatwick Express class 489s, powered or not ?

[Justin Smith]

Were the ex Gatwick Express class 489 GLVs powered or not ?
Some sources say they were (with two 247HP EE traction motors), but some say these motors were removed when they were rebuilt for the Gatwick service.
Which is true ?

 

[Oracle]

It appears that the motors were retained at the leading end although the rear bogie was changed. They certainly had shoebeams at the front.

 

[4SRKT]

I've often wondered this. I always assumed that because they retained their collector shoes they also had traction motors. Why would you need collector shoes otherwise?

It appears that the motors were retained at the leading end although the rear bogie was changed. They certainly had shoebeams at the front.

Did 2-HAPs have one traction motor on each bogie, so that with one bogie swapped out the GLVs would have had just the one?

Maybe they were retained so that if the 73 developed a fault the GLV could provide supplementary power to aid the 73's 600 hp 4SRKT diesel engine.

 

[Justin Smith]

The Railway Magazine article (May 1984 p175) for their introduction states that "the traction equipment has been removed", but in my 1998 Platform Five stock book it quotes two EE507 traction motors at 247 hp ea.

? ? ?

 

[swt_passenger]

The 'Southern E-group' description might be of interest:

http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class489_1.html

...The existing motor bogie was retained and it provides 500hp of traction to the unit. At the other (inner end) of the GLVs the existing un-powered Mk4 bogie (with external dampers) was swapped with a leading un-powered bogie off a scrapped 2 Hap driving trailer to provide a pick up at this end of the car and also the correct internal damping for a pick up bogie.

 

[Justin Smith]

The 'Southern E-group' description might be of interest:

http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class489_1.html

That seems to say that the RWM was wrong, which is unfortunate as it's often referred to as a journal of record.

"GLV does provide traction current to the class 488 trailers for conversion by a motor alternator to provide air conditioning and lighting, etc, supplies."
I didn't entirely understand this though, how can you provide traction current to an unpowered vehicle ? ! ?

 

[chuffchuff]

Change TRACTION for 750 volts DC, should make it clearer